What's wrong with my forks?

I have a set of fox float 29 rlc FIT, with 120 travel. I’ve set the sag correctly and get full travel,well a bit short but I think most fox forks don’t get right to the end do they. The thing is that despite this they still feel very harsh when hitting something like raised roots or rocks and on descents just clatter over everything. My OEM fox on my other bike are much better. So, is there something in the set up I’m doing wrong, or do they need looking at by someone like loco.

Check the oil levels. Lower the compression or decrease the spring rate and increase the compression a little, whatever works for you.

Play around with the rebound, it may be to slow causing them to pack down on repeated hits or to fast causing you to feel bounced around in the techy sections.

Basically have a play around with settings, go an section a part of a trail. Take a notepad, write down what settings you began with then go to extremes on the suspension settings. Then back to the other extreme, then one click for the opposite extreme to that, working inwards until you find a setting you like. This is called bracketing.

Write down your thoughts on each setting.

not familiar with these forks, but if they are dual air, then try more -ve presure

and/or

less + air pressure

Has the air piston got the foam ring on it below the air seal, if so it maybe that they have oil migration into the air chamber causing the harshness, the foam ring is replaced with a scraper/lip seal.

also have a look at the setup guide to see if they are any issues with rebound/compression settings.

http://locotuning.co.uk/tech-info.html

FOX ProPedal and suspension bracketing

Also listen to LoCo, he knows what he’s on about. I’m just a punter.

I’ve set the sag correctly and get full travel,well a bit short but I think most fox forks don’t get right to the end do they. The thing is that despite this they still feel very harsh when hitting something like raised roots or rocks and on descents just clatter over everything.

Too much high speed compression damping.

Cheers for the replies. I should add that I’ve had these forks nearly 2 years and they used to be really good. I have played around with the settings but still aren’t how they used to be. They were serviced last August so maybe the oil level is different to how it was. How difficult is it to do that yourself?

They need servicing yearly, send them to loco. Basic oil change is easy but sounds like something could have gone.

Glenh,how do I adjust high speed compression? Can only see a dial for low speed compression. I see what you mean but don’t know how to change it.

shim stacks but I bet the low and high speed are not totally independent so reduces the LSC.

finally got around to opening the air chamber and this is what I removed. Doesn’t look right does it! Obviously getting oil migration past the seal so have got a new scraper seal as loco recommended. There’s about 10 ml or more of this brown gunk I’ve taken out and put in 5ml of float fluid.